Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. 3:19; Eph. Ibid, p. 255. Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - Bellator Christi As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. 9:14; Heb. Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. The answer is they are gray and hard. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? Baker Books, 1995, pp. We believe God is one in essence. 20 Bible verses that mention all Trinity members - OverviewBible 4:4). The Trinity is first of all important because God is important. For instance: Additionally, all three members of the Trinity participate together in several critical events. But what does it mean that God is gracious? This is just an egg, or an apple, or H2O. Before anything was created he begat his Logos as a person distinct from himself. In describing the Trinity, the New Testament clearly distinguishes three Persons who are all simultaneously active. He is one Being in three Persons (centers of consciousness), not merely three roles. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. 25:3146; 2 Cor. These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. Lets go back to the Trinity triangle graphic, and you will see: By now you understand that the three Persons of the Trinity equally share Gods essence. Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. 13:14; 1 Pet.1:2), In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1025), When Jesus promises the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:48), Peters sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:33; Acts 3839), Peter and apostles answer the high priest (Acts 5:3032), During Stephens heavenly vision at his stoning (Acts 7:5556), In Peters sermon to the gentiles in Caesarea (Acts 10:3638; Acts 4448), When Peter reports to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:1518), When Peter speaks at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:811), During Pauls interaction with Jewish leaders in Rome (Acts 28:2531), Pauls epistles (Rom. Why? Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. The Trinity is like an egg or apple. how to explain the trinity to a new believer - NewJeru 8:26), comprehends (1 Cor. See if they can think of anything better, and be ready to discuss where different ideas might not quite work. Specifically, distinguishing between Gods one essence and his three Persons. If we were to translate it . Thus, we are not speaking with a forked tongue we are not saying that God is one and then denying that He is one by saying that He is three. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. I am also fully Keith Ferrin. How is God one? understand the doctrine of the Trinity. 12:32; 28:19; Luke 3:22), There is one God and three Gods (a contradiction), God is one person and three persons (a contradiction), God has one nature and three natures (a contradiction), There is a functional order within the Trinity, Bowman, R Jr. The Biblical Basis of the Doctrine of the Trinity. Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/bowman_robert/trinity/trinity.cfm#trin_1 Accessed: 1/20/2022. There was never a time when one of the Persons of the Godhead did not exist. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. It included Jesus miraculous conception in the virgin Mary (John 3:16)an act that we call the incarnation.. How To Explain The Trinity To A Child Or Teenager - Mama Manages 1:20-21), In salutations and benedictions (2 Cor. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. Others seem to come by it naturally, and its just not fair! Use Objects As Visual Aids. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. As long as a shape has those three angles that add up to 180 degrees, it doesnt matter what the angles degrees are. Can You Explain the Trinity to Me? - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association God created man in His image. Need help teaching your kids about communion, either at Sunday School or home? Amongst other books, I have read 'The Forgotten Trinity" by James White, but remain unconvinced that acceptance of or belief in the confusing doctrine of the trinity is essential for Salvation. Elohimis the plural form of the word God. To help us do that, here are two reasons why the Trinity matters. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). As a mom to three kids under 8, an instructional coach, and a former classroom teacher, I know a thing or two about how public schools REALLY work and the challenges we face in the United States. 2. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. Understanding the Trinity: How Can God Be Three Persons in One? - Cru.org Obviously we cannot, for Scripture is clear that there is only one God: There is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. "The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.. Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? Why do so many people struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity? That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. For example they: 5. The doctrine of the Trinity is the belief that there is one God who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 2:11), emotions (Eph. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be distinct from the Father and the Son. It starts with a whisper. Essenceis the objective set of attributes necessary to the thing being described. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. But a common question arises: How do the members of the Trinity differ from one another?. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. It's so simple, it fits on one page. 55:8-9). Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. The doctrine of the Trinity, simply stated, is as follows: The Bible teaches that there is one eternal God who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It may seem like a daunting question at first, but when we think about it the truth of God's triune nature is meant to be a joy, a comfort, and a wonder to us! But Keith Ferrin is noteveryhuman being.. ). Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. Thus, they relate to each other personally the Father regards Himself as I, while He regards the Son and Holy Spirit as You. Likewise the Son regards Himself as I, but the Father and the Holy Spirit as You.. Its probably the most classic Trinity object lesson, but its not my favorite. How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - crossexamined.org This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. So God is one what but three whos.. Here is an indication of the divinity of the Word. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! Our Triune God - Grace To You Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. The relationship between essence and Person, then, is as follows. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. Omnipotence (Jer. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. 6:45; 32:39; 1 Kings 8:60; 2 Kings 5:15; Isa. Genesis 1:1 reads: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." If we look more closely at the word we translate "God," Elohim, we see it is plural. For example: One of the most common mistakes people make is to think of the Holy Spirit as some force ala Star Wars. But the Holy Spirit is most assuredly a person. This is one of the books of the Torah. We hate SPAM. Carrying this concept over to the Trinity, it is not a contradiction for God to be both three and one because He is not three and one in the same way. 5:10), Requested prayer in his name (John 14:1314) and to be honored as God (John 5:23), Begetting the human nature of Christ at the incarnation (Luke 1:35), Inspiring Scripture (2 Tim. Is the Trinity a contradiction? If you are teaching young children, these object lessons are both the perfect starting and stopping point. If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? 2:18). You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. I'm an author, speaker, husband, father and ice cream lover. As you might expect, some people consider these mysteries as contradictions. But in response we can point out both agreement and clarification. A Christian would still be expected to understand it. With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. The Fathers plan for our redemption shows his great love for humankind. How to explain the trinity to a new believer pdf 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? - Blue Letter Bible 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. Anytime you see a geometric figure with these features, it is a triangle. Most people, including many Christians, struggle trying to apprehend the Trinity. For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. Often it is objected that If Jesus is God, then he must have prayed to himself while he was on earth. But the answer to this objection lies in simply applying what we have already seen. Lets move on to Scriptural evidence for the Trinity. They have eternally (John 17:5, 24) sought to glorify each other (Phil. 1:12). Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. AboutPressCopyrightContact. There are three Persons with one divine essence! The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms - a union of three. From our understanding of the Trinity (a social being), we recognize that a person is a relational being, not just someone with a mind, a will, and . In fact, it is precisely the continuing dialogue between the Father and the Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 5:19; 11:41-42; 17:1ff ) which furnishes the best evidence that they are distinct Persons with distinct centers of consciousness. How is God different? The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. Understanding the Doctrine of the Trinity (+ Free Printable) And he should be referred to by personal pronouns and never as it. The Holy Spirits is a person because he: Scripture also proves that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are God. 2:1011; Heb. It is fundamental to our worldview. *catholic, meaning universal here, and not a reference to the big C Catholic. 13:14), the term Trinity does not appear. While some say . Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). 317 subscribers in the BiblicalUnitarian community. It has been said, Try to explain the trinity and lose your mind, try to explain away the trinity and lose your soul. See if you can let kids arrive at the notion that God isnt really made up of parts. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. 3 in 1: A Picture of God This one is for anyone interested in using the apple object lesson. . And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Its a mystery the Bible teaches. While theconceptof the Trinity is evident in the New Testament (Matt. But he is not inferior in Gods divine essence. 15:3). Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, 8. Engage Children in learning The Holy Trinity through Reading, Writing, Playing, Creating, Singing!Included in this resource:Bible Lesson Book-Teacher Edition: Read Aloud!Full sized, colorful large print . Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. 4. For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Bible is full of Scripture speaking of there being only one God (seeDeuteronomy 6:4for starters), as well as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all being God. Deut. The word "trinity" is a term used to denote the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct, simultaneous persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 9:5; Col. 2:9), The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. A beautiful mystery. The Holy Trinity Prek Teaching Resources | TPT The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. 18:20; Matt. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. And the triangle can help us distinguish one essence from the three Persons. 3. 2:6), The image of God (John 12:45; 2 Cor. As theologian and apologist Norman Geisler has explained it, while essence is what you are, person is who you are. But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? This post is full of Bible facts for kids that will spark the imagination, encourage lots of good questions, and even inspire some Bible reading. How To Explain the Trinity To Your Child - 4 Creative Ways According to the American Heritage Dictionary the word Here are the best childrens Bibles, sorted by age. It is very simple: All three Persons are one God because, as we saw above, they are all the same essence. That definition is a mouthful. I work hard to produce evidence-based information about school for both teachers and parents, and to produce and share resources that can help at home and in the classroom. How do we come to terms with these different ideas of God? They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. How is God three? Does it look like Grandpa? "After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him.". 2. Trying to fully understand God is like a 2-year-old trying to fully understand the complexities of relationships, marriage, and parenting! Within Gods one, undivided being is an unfolding into three personal distinctions. Two biblical teachings confirm the doctrine of the Trinity: How is that possible? The Son and Holy Spirit are equal in deity to the Father. (So I won't send you any.) Faith is recognizing that we dont have all the answers and deciding that its okay to keep believing and growing. In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). 5:21), making it possible for us to have a relationship with God. Everything in Christian theology and in the believer's life finally comes back to who God is: the divine nature, the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But as a follower of Christ, your identity can and should be grounded in one thing: who He says you are. For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). The oldest member of the unholy trinity. (eds. Surely not. For example the: Finite humankind cannot wholly comprehend these mysteries. 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century.